[ Neanderthal HR Policies: Why Are Businesses Living in the Dark Ages? ]

Does that sound harsh? The truth is that Neanderthal HR policies can turn even the best companies into environments where not even cavemen or cavewomen would feel comfortable working.

In my experience, about 95 percent of employees at all levels take their company’s best interests to heart and want to contribute to its success.

Too often, however, companies try to protect themselves by writing HR policies focused on reining in the remaining 5 percent — those marginal employees whose goal is to do as little as possible while getting away with as much as possible.